Himalayan Heli Adventures

Himalayan Heli Adventures has been in operation since 1990 and offers guided heli skiing in some of world's most spectacular and exciting skiing terrain (in the Himalayas) with exceptional quality powder snow.

The location at approximately 34° N latitude, provides for long days, and a variety of exposures allows HHA to ski both with or against the sun. The altitude allows much greater “back radiation” than other areas, which creates excellent re-crystallised powder. Manali is known for having one of the deepest snowpacks in the entire Himalaya, and due to the continental climate, snowfalls tend to be of low moisture content. As an added bonus, the potential is vast for terrific, spring corn-snow skiing!

While the Manali region is generally blessed with excellent weather, HHA must stress that they operate in a wilderness environment, and that guests will be skiing in wilderness conditions. Most of the time, the skiing is very good, but conditions can change quickly, and you may encounter some difficult or poor skiing. HHA guides will attempt to find the best snow possible, but you must be prepared to accept whatever nature delivers!

In 1983, Australian climber Roddy Mackenzie was caught by an early winter storm while climbing a peak near Manali. He was amazed at the amount of snow that fell. With a little investigation it became obvious that if the right ingredients were put together, the Manali area could be the best heli-skiing terrain on earth.

After years of survey work, and with the generous help of the state government, HHA brought the first civilian helicopter all the way from Switzerland to the Valley of the Gods. The skiing was superb, and it still is. Since then, the company has grown to be a state-of-the-art heli-skiing operation catering to any level of skiing ability. Guests come from all over the world to experience the wonders of the Himalaya. No one leaves unimpressed. No comparison with ranges outside Asia can convey the natural grandeur of the mountains in our skiing area. Speaking from personal experience, Roddy says that from certain places in our operating area the view is as grand as that from the summit of Mt. Everest; however, as a HHA guest, you can save yourself a long walk (and a fair bit of nervous energy)!

Safety is HHA's number 1 priority. All packages run small groups (max 4 guests per guide) with highly qualified guides. The helicopters used are powerful Eurocopter AS350 B3 and/or Bell-407 helicopters supplied by well known Indian aviation companies. Pilots are highly skilled Swiss pilots specialising in mountain flying and the aircraft are maintained by Swiss engineers. Emergency back-up support is available ex operations base. All of this combined makes them one of the safest heli operations in the world.

Hot springs, temples, art galleries, the local ski field (very small), bootleggers, Tibetan monasteries, the Manali bazaar and many other exotic sights await you. The Himalaya is not just a ski experience but a complete cultural experience. This means that any non-skiing days will not be wasted idling in the lodge.

Himalayan Heli Adventures Packages

From price based on twin/double-share room occupancy, Standard Odyssey Package, Regular Season (Per Person)
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc all taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.

Price p/p

From price based on twin/double-share room occupancy, Standard Odyssey Package, Regular Season (Per Person)
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc all taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.

USD 8,950

Ability:Strong Intermediate to Expert

The Odyssey is an efficient way to heliski the Himalaya. A maximum of 15 skiers share a helicopter, broken into small groups of 3-4 skiers per guide. We offer six full days (weather permitting) and 30,500 vertical meters of skiing, with a minimum guarantee of 20,000 vertical meters. More

From price based on a group of 9, twin/double-share room occupancy, Himalayan Exclusive Package, Regular Season (Per Person)
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc all taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.

Price p/p

From price based on a group of 9, twin/double-share room occupancy, Himalayan Exclusive Package, Regular Season (Per Person)
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc all taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.

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Ability:Strong Intermediate to Expert

This is an adventure of a lifetime! Immerse yourself in the rich Himalayan culture, eat exotic Indian foods & ride some of the best skiing terrain on the planet. These PRIVATE packages include 7-nights of deluxe accommodation, all private chef prepared meals, guided heli skiing, domestic transfers & more. More

Location & Access

Himalayan Heli Adventures location is truly one of its greatest assets! HHA has base facilities located approximately 500 km north of New Delhi, near Manali, in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal is one of the wealthiest and most politically stable states on the Indian subcontinent. Because of our relative proximity to New Delhi, transportation networks are well established, providing HHA clients with an easy and scenic 90-minute flight from New Delhi to Kullu. Manali is north of Kullu. The one-hour drive from Kullu to Manali is a highlight of the trip, for it takes guests through enchanting villages and orchards, past colourful Hindu temples and terraced barley fields which are characteristic of the Himalayan foothills.

With regard to your transportation to New Delhi, HHA will be glad to recommend carriers and schedules providing comfortable and convenient options. Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, is serviced by most major international carriers. Direct flights from most cities in Europe to New Delhi are of six to eight hours duration. Please note that HHA leaves all international transportation responsibilities with the guest. Be sure that you are able to stitch together all connections and itineraries, as failure to do so could delay your arrival in Manali.

Terrain

Manali sits by the Beas river at an altitude of roughly 2000 m, surrounded by beautiful deodar cedar forests and huge peaks soaring to more than 6000 m. Under certain conditions HHA can ski to the valley floor through massive cedar forests, but most skiing takes place on long rolling ridge lines; through glades of birch and oak trees; down steep cirque bowls or on huge undulating glaciers. Both during and after storms the skiing in the trees is excellent.

The altitudes at which HHA ski vary depending on group fitness and ability, the interests of the group and the snow and weather conditions. HHA has wonderful conditions at the same elevations as resorts in America and Europe, but the opportunity exists to ski on what is truly the roof of the world if conditions permit.

Most skiing takes place between high valley floors around 2700 m and ridges at 4700 m, with verticals averaging between 900 m and 1200 m. However, some of our most spectacular terrain is as high as 5000 m.

Skiing at High AltitudeSkiing at high altitude is one of the most common concerns of HHA guests. The following are some facts about skiing at altitude. Acute Mountain Sickness or Altitude Sickness is not a concern for heli-skiing guests as outlined below.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
AMS is the term used for a number of symptoms associated with the physiological reactions to altitudes above 2500 metres. AMS is not a concern for HHA heliskiing guests because although you are skiing at above 2500 metres you are always sleeping below this altitude, which means the body never has to fully acclimatize or adapt to high altitude.

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) are two extreme forms of AMS. These are caused by a complex series of physiological changes that occur when we ascend and sleep above 2500 metres. This is not a concern for heliskiers because HHA do not sleep at altitude. Manali is below the altitudes at which AMS occurs.

If for some reason guests are stranded above 10,000 feet, AMS would become a concern. To deal with this possibility, the company has placed Portable Altitude Chambers (PAC units) at strategic points around the mountains. These chambers were developed by Roddy Mackenzie in conjunction with Bartlett Industries Australia.

Other Health Concerns at Altitude
Altitude induced headaches are a concern to heli-skiers. The air at altitude is much drier than at sea level. This means that the simple act of breathing dehydrates the body. To counter this, HHA strongly recommend that guests drink frequently from the small bottles of mineral water provided in the helicopter.

Certain cardiac conditions may pose a risk at altitude. This is rare, and guests should consult their doctor if they have any cardiac problems.

The reduction in available oxygen at altitude will mean that people will ski fewer turns before they feel tired. In the first few days of skiing, guests generally ski 10 to 20 per cent fewer turns per pitch. After a few days, most people do not notice any difference.

Guides & Safety

The safety of guests and staff is the primary concern of Himalayan Heli Adventures.

HHA operates with the lowest guide-to-guest ratio in the world (1:4) and with a maximum of 15 skiers at any one time. Their guides are Internationally Certified and experienced heli-ski professionals. They have emergency medical skills and are experts in snow safety, rescue techniques and mountain travel and all have worked with heli-ski operations worldwide. The low number of guests allows them to provide a level of security not normally available. Each guest will be given an avalanche transceiver and bag and will be instructed on its use at the beginning of each week. The guides carry extensive rescue and emergency gear and are equipped with radios for communication with the helicopter and base.

Note that the danger of avalanches is always present. The conditions that create potential for avalanches are complex and incompletely understood. HHA guides are highly trained at forecasting and avoiding areas of high avalanche danger, but this is a constantly changing phenomenon, you must be willing to accept all risks associated with skiing in remote and uncontrolled areas.

Iconic Heli Skiing

Very dry snow, plenty of it, and unlimited vertical. An amazing place to ski.

There is sublime tree skiing and, of course, more true alpine than you can shake a stick at. The high altitudes assure dry, good quality, never ending snow. We didn’t see very deep powder during the time we were there, but knee deep is standard and the mid weight snow is perfect. The pitch and terrain is as steep and varied as any skier could want and the setting is mind blowing. The irregular pointed peaks surrounding you could only be the Himalayas. You have no doubt you are skiing somewhere very special.The conditions vary from crystal clear, warm days, where you can see forever, to overcast conditions, with visibility too poor to fly. I got the impression that the latter are not uncommon. There were 4 consecutive no fly days during the time I was there. The days we did ski however had conditions that were as good as you could ever dream of. The vertical is more limited by the clients than the hours in the day. Heliskiing is a lot of work. Make sure you are fit enough to make the most of it. Even if you are fit, expect the altitude to make the first day or two tough. The weeks are organised to try to acclimatise guests as much as possible. The first one or two days might be spent in the trees before going higher into the alpine, so that you can enjoy the skiing more. The first run from over 5000m will have you gasping for air, but reeling with pleasure.Manali is only a quick flight from New Delhi, but the airport is often affected by cloud and there are limited flights. The Manali Heliski team meet you in New Delhi and manage your time there, including transfers to the airport and any changes to the itinerary that need to be made. Usually they manage to get people to the other end on the day intended, but it is not always possible. If the flights are cancelled you may have to fly to Chandigarh instead, not far as the crow flies, but a long way from Manali on a bumpy road. Staying another night in New Delhi may be a better option.

The guides are international, a mix of local, European, Australians and New Zealanders. All very experienced and great people to ski with. The head guide is Roger Kingston, who works for Harris Mountains in NZ in the southern winter and is a top bloke. The helicopter pilots are from Zermatt and amongst the most experienced and skilled mountain pilots in the world. They are occasionally called on to perform rescues while they are in Manali and while we were there, they rescued some very, very lucky hikers lost in the high country.

The package includes accommodation at a quite luxurious Manali hotel. The helicopter pad is within the hotel grounds. Literally a 50m walk from your bedroom door. The skiers’ meals are also provided and there is a large dining room and bar where you can eat and socialise with the other skiers, guides and staff. It is the off season for Manali, so you more or less have this enormous hotel to yourself. The hotel design is pleasingly mad and the staff are very nice people.

The skiing in the 2016 season was affected by the weather. Even in the Himalayas the snow can be off in a bad year. The advantage in this part of the world is that you can go higher or search further to find perfect conditions. We did end up with a little less skiing than we were hoping for. That was no one’s fault, the weather just did not cooperate. The skiing we did get will be remembered for a lifetime. Be aware though that the guaranteed vertical is 20,000m (or was in 2015) and you can chalk that up in two days. If you don’t get that vertical in your week you get a discount on the following season, but no refund. They try hard to make sure everyone gets a fair deal. Certainly there are a lot of repeat customers, but read the small print.

This is one of the iconic heliski destinations of the world. The only commercial skiing above 5000m. Top guides and pilots.